At the meeting of the full County Council, councillors agreed a 4.99% increase in Hampshire County Council’s share of council tax from April 2026, the maximum rise that Government allows councils without them needing to hold a local referendum. The increase will help protect vital services for the county’s most vulnerable children and adults, while enabling the Council to keep controlling costs, deliver savings and continue transforming services through more efficient and innovative ways of working.
The increase means that the Hampshire County Council element of council tax for a Band D property will be £1,690.11 in 2026/27 – an increase of £1.54 per week from last year. Despite the increase, Hampshire continues to have one of the lowest county council tax precepts amongst shire councils in England.
As in previous years, 2% of the increase will be directed specifically to adult social care, in line with Government policy, as demand keeps rising from an ageing population and essential support for adults with complex needs and disabilities.
The decision comes against a backdrop of sustained and growing pressures, particularly in adult social care, children’s services, special educational needs and school transport, alongside inflationary and workforce costs. The approved budget relies on continued efficiency, further savings and the extremely careful use of reduced reserves, while the Council examines longer term solutions to maintain financial stability in future years.
County Council Leader, Cllr Nick Adams King, said: “We are and have always been open and transparent about the challenges we face, and this budget reflects that. Through hard work, innovation and transformation we have delivered significant savings in this financial year. I must be honest and say there will come a point when people in Hampshire have to pay more council tax, however there is still much we can do to reduce the budget gap that eventual increase will need to cover. Therefore, I do not believe now is the time to go beyond what is absolutely necessary.
“I want to be very clear about one thing: councils do not ‘go bankrupt’. That term is often used, but it is wrong and misleading. What can happen is that a council reaches a point where it cannot legally balance its budget without additional action or support. Hampshire County Council is managing its finances lawfully, responsibly and transparently, and this budget is part of doing exactly that.
“We are also still doing everything we can to control costs, pulling every lever available to us – from children’s services and school transport to investment in new recycling facilities and working more closely with the NHS to share the cost of care more fairly. These are responsible decisions, taken in the interests of Hampshire residents and taxpayers.
“A 4.99% increase is a difficult but carefully considered decision. While we are mindful of the cost of living pressures our residents face, this increase of £1.54 a week on average will allow us to keep safeguarding vital services for children at risk of harm, our growing older population, and people with disabilities and additional needs. By continuing to make savings and transform the way we operate, we want to be able to limit the scale of any future council tax increases beyond the 4.99% referendum limit Government imposes on councils.”
Alongside the revenue budget, councillors have also approved the County Council’s £971 million capital programme for 2026/27 to 2028/29, funded largely through developer contributions and Government grants. As well as supporting economic growth, jobs and skills, the programme will ensure the Council has the buildings, roads and facilities needed to deliver services now, and in the future, while helping to drive efficiencies in day-today budgets, including supporting children with special educational needs closer to home.
The agreed programme includes:
- £178m for structural maintenance of roads and bridges
- £216m for Integrated Transport Plan schemes
- £187m for new and extended school buildings
- £49m to support High Needs provision
- £71m for children’s social care, including a new secure children’s home
- £124m for condition-based improvements to school buildings
- £47m for waste and recycling infrastructure to improve recycling services
The Council will continue working closely with Government and key partners to plan for future financial challenges, ensuring Hampshire remains resilient, forward-looking and able to deliver the essential services that are relied on by 1.4 million residents across the county.